Key-button assembly



Oct. 9, 192s. 1,686,606

M. GARBELL KEY BUTTON AS SEMBLY Filed Nov. 15, 1926 /uwl Muffq'ww ATTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 9, 1928.

UNITED s'raTEs f 1,686,608 PATENT volrflcii.I

MAX GARBELL,\ OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR.TO VICTOR ADDING MACHIN COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF, ILLINOIS.

xEY-BUr'roN ASSEMBLY.

Appuatiqnmed November 13, 192s. semina. 148,246;

My invention relates to key button struci tures and methods of making the same, and it has particular relationto an assemblage of v elements s o lconstructed that they may be .quickly and expeditiously related to each otller in proper order byrelatively unskllled la'l or. y l. v

I will hereinafter explain my invention in connection with a key structure orfas it is' i0 more familiarly termed in .the typewriter art-key button which is at outer or nger contact end of the key levers of typewriting, adding, and other machines employing designating characters which vare struck characters must be carefully aligned to present a proper readable appearance. Moreover, care must be taken that the various characters are not placed in upsidedown position.

In those machines embodying key buttons and with which I am familiar, it has been necessary heretofore to expend considerable tlme in assembling the various elements to L eventuate the desired results so far as align-' ment and proper positioning of the letter elements are concerned. The difiiculties incident to this character of device will be more explicitly pointed o'ut inconnection with the description ot my improved method, which latter may be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:I

Figure 1 represents a disassembled view in perspective of the elements utilized inmy key utton method; Fig. 2 isa top-view of theelements shown in Fig. 1 in their assembled relation; Fig. v3 is an elevational, sectional view taken on the' line 3-3 of Fig. 2.; t Fig. 4 is a perspective' view of the key bu on; Y j j Fig. 5 is a disassembled vie-w in perspective -of the elemeuts'comprising a key button assembly of modiiiedfermyand Fig. 6.is a cross-sectional-view similar in character to that of Fig... 3, but in which the, j structure illustrated inFig. '5 is show-n.

VReferring now more particularly to the drawings, a key lever 10 is provided at its outer or -strikable end withan upstanding portion l1. Secured to the upper end of the vportion 1l, as by a riveted portion 12, is a charac-ter containing cup' 13. A letter or character bearing member 14 comprises an upper ortion 15- of Celluloid, or similar material, aring the character 16, and a lower portion 17 which is usually made of cork or otherl cushioning material, vmembers 15 and 17., being secured together and comprising in effect one element.

My invention, therefore, contemplates the utilization of guide members or lugs which -willat one time effect aninitial correct positioning of the letter-bearing key buttons and also insure that said buttons are all in pro er upright position. -My improved assem ly f may be put together incorrect and accurate alignment `wholly by the sense of touch and without the need of further adjustment after the buttons are placed in the key cups.

To accomplish thisend, I providelug-like members 18 which are upset or,otherwise formed, on the inner surfaces of the upside walls of the cup. These lugs are made by dies so that they are invariable in position, which insures a correct alignment of the characters held by the cups. The characters, or buttons themselves, are provided with complementary grooves 19--19 so that an operator, no matter how unskilled, can only place4 lthe buttons in one position in the cups thereby effecting an absolutely correct alignment.

My invention is', therefore, of' double advantage in that it permits the operator to very speedily assemble the key buttons and cup receivers in accurate alignment and at the same time does away with the necessity of turning the button after its initial placement, whereji'rom the liability ofdamage in adjustment is entirely eliminated.

After the button 14 has been `placed in the cup 13, an annular securing member 2O is put down over the cup 13 and the member 14E-contained therein, resulting in an assembly as shownin Fig. 4. i As heretofore'suggested, my improved key button assembly not only permits4 of accurate alignment but may be so employed as to vinsure the correct positioning so far as up and down relation-is concerned.

In Figs'. 5 and 6 I have illustrated my invention as used in such a connection. There, only one lug or upset part 18 is utilized, and

is, the side towards the operator of the machine on which the assembly is to be used.

lf now 'the character bearing element is ,provided with a groove 19 at its bottom only, an operator may, by the sense of touch entirely, place the button in the cup not only in correct alignment but with the assurance that the character has not beeninserted in an upside down position.

l desire that the invention which l have described herein be interpreted in View of' thc Lesmo@ the structure shown herein While still utilizing the spirit of my invention.

l claim A key button assembly comprising a cuplike member positioned on the end of a key lever7 positioning lugs struck inwardly from said cup member, and va character-bearing member havingy grooves formed in the side thereof to correctly co-operate with the positioning lugs in said cup to facilitate the assembly of said members.

ln Witness whereof, l have hereunto subscribed my name.

MAX GARBELL. 

